50th Anniv. Key Chain/Fob: Marshalltown IA Chamber of Commerce

According to an article in the local newspaper, the Marshalltown Times-Republican, the Marshalltown Commercial Club was organized in 1898. That group was renamed the Marshalltown Chamber of Commerce in 1921 and it is apparently that date which was commemorated with this shiny gold fob/key chain.


The fob/key chain measures 1.25 inches diameter and features the words ‘over 50 years of community service’ on one side, with the Chamber’s logo on the opposite. It retains its original bright and shiny finish and in As New condition.


Circa: 1970s
Condition: Very Good
 

Vintage Decker Spiced Luncheon Meat Tin
Another vintage luncheon meat tin from just after World War II, this red-and-white painted tin held 6 pounds of DECKER’S SPICED LUNCHEON MEAT, packed by Jacob E. Decker & Sons, Mason City, Iowa.

Unlike many of today’s processed meats, this specifically listed the ingredients: chopped pork, pork tongues, pork hearts and the usual preservatives of the time. ‘Ways to Serve’ are listed on the side panel.

The tin measures about 11.75 inches long by 3.5 inches wide by 4.25 inches deep and is in Very Good condition. It has a very few minor scratches on the paint, but these help provide the ‘vintage’ character of the tin and don’t interfere with the readability or beauty. The end where the lid was removed has sharp edges, normal when these were opened with the ‘key’ winders.

Another terrific example of early packaging! (4543)

Condition: Used
Manufacturer: Jacob E. Decker & Sons  

Original 1950s Washington State Fruit Crate End and Label
From the Cascadian Fruit Shippers-Packers of Wenatchee, Washington, this is an authentic wood end for a fruit crate of the late 1950s. It held 20 pounds net of 12 row & larger Hill Lambert plums. The label shows colorful peaches and plums cascading across the bright blue background. The label covers an area about 2.75 by 10 inches. The wood itself measures 13.5 inches long by 4 inches wide by .75 inch thick. Handwritten on the top of the crate end is the grocer’s pricing: ‘Pears, 8 cents each or 6 for 45 cents!’

The one-piece solid wood end has its own nail holes from use. Unlike others we’ve seen, however, the wood in this has a beautiful grain showing that could make it a marvelous collector’s piece if varnished! The label remains bright and colorful with some edge wear at top and a few scraped places on the center. It is still completely attached to the wood and both have been wrapped in clear plastic that can easily be removed if you wish.

It’s a great old fruit crate label for decorating, or just display. And it’s becoming increasingly difficult to find these genuine old labels still attached to the original crate!



Circa: 1950s
Condition: Very Good
Type: Wood
Manufacturer: Cascadian Fruit Suppliers  

Original 1950s Orange Crate Box End and Label
With a bright colored orange at the top, the Red Shield of this label really stands out! The Red Shield navel oranges were shipped by A.C.G. Fruit Exchange, Azusa, California in the early 1950s. Unfortunately, the name of the grower company was on a section of the label corner that is no longer present.

The solid wood piece measures 11.5 long, 11.5 wide and about 5/8 inches thick and was actually an end board from the crate. A coat of varnish will bring out the colors of the label; the authentic nail holes and wood grain adding to the beauty. It’s in Very Good condition, although there is some wear at the label’s edges.



Circa: 1950s
Condition: Very Good
Type: Wood
 

Andrew Polehna Meat Products Lucky Penny, Cedar Rapids IA

Featuring a 1955D Lincoln wheat back penny, this was an advertising piece for Andrew Polehna & Sons Homemade Meat Products of Cedar Rapids, IA. It has the words ‘Keep Me and You Will Have Good Luck’ imprinted on the aluminum holder, along with such traditional good luck symbols as the horseshoe and four-leaf clover.

Encased coins have been in existence for a little longer than a century, arising about the start of the 20th century. They spread as an inexpensive form of advertising in their early years, just as merchant store cards were popular with businesses in the 19th century. Encased coins also served (and continue to serve) as souvenirs of events, places and social organizations, including coin clubs. They fell out of favor as advertising pieces in the 1960s.

This is in Very Good condition, needing some cleaning but with no apparent defects.


Circa: 1955
Condition: Very Good
 

International Harvester Reaper Centennial Token, 1931

According to legend, Cyrus McCormick built the first successful reaper and demonstrated it in a Virginia wheat field in July 1831. In 1931, the International Harvester Company celebrated the 100th anniversary of this momentous event with a number of promotions. Most every item issued by IHC during that year was adorned with two gold, embossed circles. One circle featured the head of Cyrus McCormick with his name around the top edge, the words 'Inventor of the Reaper' over his left shoulder, and the dates he lived (1809-1884) over the right shoulder. The other circle (back of the token) exhibited an image of the first reaper behind a boy on a single horse, along with a man walking alongside to rake the grain from the machine's platform. 'International Harvester Company' was imprinted around the top edge, while beneath the image were the words 'Centennial of the Reaper 1831 1931' bracketed between two upright sheaves of wheat.

This token was one of the promotional items issued by the company. It measures about 1.25 inches diameter and is made of brass. Produced by the Metallic Art Co. of New York, with that company's name lettered on the outside edge of the coin. The token is in Very Good+ condition with light bumps to the edges. It has some discoloration from age, but likely can be easily cleaned/polished.


Circa: 1931
Condition: Very Good+
Manufacturer: Metallic Art Co.  

Armour Meats Wood Crate, 1950s

We don't know for sure what the product was that came in this neat little box; it is nearly a perfect copy of the Armour Pork Brains crate we've also listed. It doesn't, however, has that stencil on the side.

What we do know is that it was used by ARMOUR AND COMPANY, GENERAL OFFICES CHICAGO, ILLINOIS and that name is stamped on one end of the crate, along with a partly faded paper 'Domestic Meat Label' announcing the product had passed inspection by the the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

DETAILS: The box measures 11.25 inches long; 9 inches wide and 4 inches deep. Bottom and side boards 1/4 inch thick are nailed tightly in place, so the box is sturdy!

CONDITION: It's in Very Good condition with some soil and stains inside. That can easily be cleaned to make a nice old store collectable! (t174)


Circa: 1950s
Condition: Used
Type: Wood
 

1955 G-E Electric Motors Catalog

Distributed by Crescent Electric Supply Co. for General Electric, Schenectady NY, this March 1, 1955 softcover catalog presents buying information on a large group of G-E motors.

Included in the 28 pages are fractional horsepower motors for general and definite purposes, as well as gear-motors. Integral horsepower motors include the polyphase, drip-proof part-winding starting; single phase; polyphase TEFC; and gear motors. Photos and drawings illustrate each motor, with prices given for each kind.

The catalog is in Very Good condition with no apparent defects inside; light soil on covers from storage; and some light edge/corner wear to covers. (6537)

Circa: 1955
Condition: Used
Type: Stapled
Publisher: General Electric Co.
Pages: 28  

Original 1960s Fruit Crate Box End and Label
This is an authentic wooden end for a fruit crate of the 1960s. Measuring 13.5 inches long by 3.75 inches tall and 5/8 inches thick, it carried 18 pounds of ’13 Row Size’ M &R Brand Cherries packed and shipped by the M & R Packing Co., Lodi, California. The label shows a picture of red cherries draped across four aces in a hand of cards and the line ‘Hard to Beat.’ It covers an area about 10 by 11 inches.

The one-piece solid wood end has its own stains and nail holes from use. The label remains bright and colorful with only a bit of edge wear at top. It is still completely attached to the wood and both have been wrapped in clear plastic that can easily be removed if you wish.

It’s a nice fruit crate label for decorating, or just display. And it’s becoming increasingly difficult to find these genuine old labels still attached to the original crate!



Circa: 1960s
Condition: Very Good
Type: Wood
Manufacturer: M & R Packing Co.  

Original 1950s Celery Crate Box End and Label
Who’d ever think that celery would be transported in a wood crate? Well, here’s proof that it DID happen in the 1940s-50s! This is the label end from a crate of ‘Garin-tee Quality California Celery’! It was grown in USA, individually washed and pre-cooled by the H.P.Garin Company, growers, shippers and car lot distributors of fruits and vegetables in Salinas California.

The solid wood crate end measures about 16 inches long, 9-5/8 inches wide and about 5/8 inches thick. The label is marked as a registered ‘U.S. Patent and Canada’ and has a few edge tears, but retains the bright red/white/blue colors. The wood has a bit of soil, but can easily be cleaned and varnished to prolong its life and beauty. This one’s unusual – don’t miss it for your collection!



Circa: 1940s
Condition: Very Good
Type: Wood